Chrysanthemum plant named Stoplight

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum named Stoplight having single capitulum type, flat capitulum form, brilliant red ray florets, diameter of 65-80 mm. across face of capitulum, and by its resistance to fading under high light and high temperature.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 484,442, filed Apr. 13,1983, now abandoned.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Stoplight.

Stoplight is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with single capitulumtype, brilliant red ray floret color, 9 week response, and the abilityto produce commercially acceptable quality in year round pot mumprograms. Such traits in combination were not present in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars.

Stoplight was originated from a self pollination of the cultivardesignated P7-400 made in a controlled breeding program in West Chicago,Ill. in 1979. Stoplight was discovered and selected as one floweringplant within the progeny of the stated parentage by Peter S. Hesse inSeptember, 1980 in a controlled environment in West Chicago, Ill.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Stoplight was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection on Nov. 15,1980 in a controlled environment in West Chicago, Ill. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Peter S. Hesse.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated Feb. 26, 1981 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Stoplight are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Stoplight has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in West Chicago, Ill. and Parrish, Fla. under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Stoplight, which in combination distinguishthis chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Single capitulum type.

3. Brilliant red ray florets.

4. Diameter across the face of the capitulum 65-80 mm.

5. Yellow-green (immature) to yellow (mature) disc florets.

6. Does not fade significantly under high light and high temperatures.

7. Medium pot plant height of about 300 mm. from edge of the pot.

8. Semi-upright branching pattern.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Stoplight is Spark, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,946, granted Aug. 24, 1976. In comparison to Spark, Stoplighthas larger flowers, a brighter red color, the petals are more upright(cupped capitulum), and it is more resistant to fading under high lightand temperature conditions. The disc floret color, capitulum form andcapitulum type are similar to those same characteristics of Spark.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Stoplight, with colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of Stoplight. Sheet 2 is a black and white print of a photoshowing typical leaves (abaxial view) at various stages of development.

It should be noted that the illustrated flower color in Sheet 1 is abrighter red than the actual flower color, specified below. The trueflower color is essentially identical to the flower color illustrated inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,328, granted Oct. 31, 1978.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 8:00-9:00 A.M. on Nov. 17, 1982 under 2000-3000 foot candleintensity at Parrish, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. cv Spotlight.

Commercial.--Daisy Pot Mum.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form: Flat. Type: Daisy. Diameter Across Face: 65-80 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--Color (general tonality from a distance ofthree meters): Red. Color (upper surface): 181A. Color (lower surface):46A.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): Yellow. Color (immature):Yellow-green.

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present only in disc florets;numerous. Gynoecium: Present in both ray and disc florets; numerous.

II Plant

A. General appearance.--Height: Upright approximately 300 mm.

B. Foliage.--Color (abaxial): 147B. Color (adaxial): 147A. Shape: Deeplylobed and slightly serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum namedStoplight, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterizedby its single capitulum type, flat capitulum form, brilliant red rayflorets, diameter of 65-80 mm. across face of capitulum, and by itsresistance to fading under high light and high temperatures.